Buying Advice Narrowing the tractor selection pool

[Baby Grand]

Hi BG, I'm not sure how to quantify how much field cutting is a lot. I will initially have 5 acres or so of grass that is over my head (I'm 6'3") which is also interspersed with blackberry thickets 12-15' tall. After it's tended the first time, however, I'll keep things under control so the demands will be kept in check.

5 acres is a good piece of seat time. If you will cut it regularly, then you shouldn't have any problems with the L3560, and for the occasional heavy cut you just slow down and take a little smaller bite. I've been cutting with 26 PTO HP running a 5' and it's okay most of the time.

 

[biodegraded]

I was looking at Bush Hog's roll over box blade and they state that the selection can be made while remaining seated. I see the long lever that lifts the latch, but how does one spin the rolling part to select front/back/rip tools while the latch is raised?

 

[jeff9366]

Selection can be made while seated if you are at least six feet tall.

You raise the Three Point Hitch, then pull the long lever from the driver's seat to unlatch the "rollover" mechanism. Gravity then drops rippers. You slightly lower Three Point Hith to engage rippers with ground, then move tractor forward or reverse to rotate ROBB to either pull or push dirt. ROBB will latch itself into push or pull position chosen. You can also latch with rippers down to loosen hard dirt.

Simple, ingenious; fifteen second learning curve.

 

[boggen]

you will need to quickly figure out how to change oil, and various filters on tractor, using a grease gun, having a air compressor and blowing out the radiator. how to use a torque wrench. have wire brush, set of socket wrenches, to box end wrenches, different size screw drivers. pressure washer, what different grade bolts you use for "shear pins".

other words ya going to need a basic tools, to maintain a tractor. and keep it cleaned up and greased up and oiled up so it last a long time. a tractor you just don't drive to the local oil lub to have oil change, or local muffler/brake shop to to have them redone, or local tire shop for new tires. there is maintenance that needs to be done, much of it is prevented maintenance, but simple easy maintenance that keep a unit working for a long time. and hopefully with less failures, granted i use and abuse machinery working them. but also keep up on the maintance aspect, so i can use and abuse the machinery even more *grins*

 

[biodegraded]

I am aware of machine maintenance and have had and use the items you mention for at least 30 years. A tractor just means another, different, set of consumables to go with my truck, motorcycle, etc.

 

[biodegraded]

I've been looking into grapples lately. I am surprised how heavy many are. For example, the Land Pride SCG15 and SGC20 claw grapples @ 72" are ~900 lbs. The 60 inchers are ~800. It would seem using a grapple has implications for which loader to get. I was thinking the LA805, but now wonder if that's realistically too light duty if real grapple use is in the cards. Input welcome.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I've been looking into grapples lately. I am surprised how heavy many are. For example, the Land Pride SCG15 and SGC20 claw grapples @ 72" are ~900 lbs. The 60 inchers are ~800. It would seem using a grapple has implications for which loader to get. I was thinking the LA805, but now wonder if that's realistically too light duty if real grapple use is in the cards. Input welcome.

In my opinion, anything over 600lbs is made for either a full size utility tractor or a skid steer. There are plenty of grapples to choose from that fit the bill required for a compact or even sub-compact tractors. Oh, please define what you consider to be "real grapple use". :confused3:

 

[biodegraded]

Not much of a definition, maybe grab and drag a downed 6" diameter doug fir tree? In any case, I'd be interested to hear about the lighter grapples for research.

 

[jeff9366]

I've been researching the information you've given. I think I've narrowed the selection down to a Kubota Grand L3560 or L4060.

I intend to go with someone's heavy duty bucket. That will be one of the most frequently used implements and I want it to last the rest of my life. SSQA is also a given for me.

I was thinking the LA805, but now wonder if that's realistically too light duty if real grapple use is in the cards. Input welcome.

Weight mounts up quickly.

From Kubota L3560/LA805 Operator's Manuals:

HST Tractor---------------------------3,649 pounds (presumably with Ag tires)

LA805 Loader* -----------------------1,279 pounds (Lift Capactiy 2,200 pounds at the bucket pin)

L2296 72" Round Back HD Bucket-----397 pounds

SUBTOTAL-----------------------------5,325 pounds

R4 Industrial Tires add a bit more. 5,400 pounds**

Grapple LINKS: (There are at least two grapples made in the PNW.)

Wood's RBG

www.TheRakeShop.com / Root Rakes Grapples Attachments & Skid Steers

Grapple weight REPLACES bucket weight.


*LA805 FEL is pretty strong. To use LA805 to full effect you need 600 - 900 pounds in counterbalance/ballast mounted on the 3-Pt Hitch or 1,000 pounds in loaded tires. I prefer Three Point Hitch counterbalance because I run over residential lawns regularly so want rear weight only "on demand". Also, weight BEHIND the rear axle unloads stress from the front axle/bearings/seals. Loaded tires do not unload stress from the front axle.

**At 5,400 pounds diesel consumption is .4 gallon/hour without PTO engaged.

 

[biodegraded]

Thank you for the information, jeff9366. More to think about, more questions that will come from it. As an aside, where do you get these Operator's Manual informations from? I can't find it online, even from Kubota, who one would think would publish it. lol

 

[jeff9366]

I own and operate a Kubota L3560 with LA805 FEL. Kubota provided the manuals "free" with the tractor-loader.

My retiree avocation is maintaining/improving woodland trails and wooded common areas in a rural residential community. Quite a lot of tree work, some food plot work, some ag work.

 

[jeff9366]

Not much of a definition, maybe grab and drag a downed 6" diameter doug fir tree? In any case, I'd be interested to hear about the lighter grapples for research.

Here are pictures of my former 2,000 pound Kubota B3300SU, with LA504 FEL, carrying Oak tree trunks on Payne's Aluminum Debris Forks.

(Always with rear ballast on the 3-Pt.)

Kubota L3560 with LA805 FEL and L2296 HD Bucket is much more capable.

 

[k0ua]

Biodegraded the LA805 is a pretty healthy loader, I would recommend something like this Everything attachment's grapple for it. the 54 inch one is 349 lbs and the 60 incher is 382 lbs. These grapple's are made with 90,000 lb yield strength steel instead of the usual A36 steel with a 36,000 lb strength. They are lightweight yet tough. I have one of the smaller ones the 50 inch single lid made for tractors up to 35 horsepower and it is a good tough grapple. A grapple does not have to weigh a half a ton to be strong if it is made out of good steel. You are correct in you thinking that a 900 lb grapple is going to eat up a significant amount of your lift capacity. No I don't get any money for selling these things, I am just a satisfied customer.

Everything Attachments Wicked Root Grapple for Compact Tractors

 

[varmint]

These posts are getting good! Jeff9366 and kOua are giving some good advice, IMHO, and although I don't have need for a grapple, I would agree with the comments, based on my readings on TBN. I just wish I had gone for 3 point weight rather than filled tires, for the lawn issues. Oh well, everything has trade-offs, eh?

 

[biodegraded]

I'm certainly thankful for the content in this thread. It's helped a lot already.

@varmint, though new here, I already know the recommendation for your dilemma: you clearly need TWO tractors.

 

[varmint]

Bio... actually, I only need one, and even then, rarely. But when we get 24" of snow, it's up to me to clear our lane- about a quarter mile if you count the 95 year old guy who lives at the end of the lane, past us. I am now thinking of selling the bigger L3130 and looking at something mid-sized (I know, it's all relative!) like a L3400. I don't want my wife knowing when I have used the tractor, and now, she just notices the ruts across the grass, and I am in trouble.